Mouthful: Oktoberfest continues

October 17, 2013, 3:06PM

10/17/2013

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<b>Oktoberfest Continues in Valley Ford:</b> The response to last weekend's "Rocktoberfest" at Rocker Oysterfeller's Kitchen and Saloon (14415 Highway 1, Valley Ford) was such a great success that the celebration will continue through Oct. 27.

Here's the deal. During the restaurant's regular hours — Thursday and Friday, 5-8:30 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 8:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. — a special menu of classic German fare and drink will be available.

Buttermilk fried chicken, Rocker burgers, oysters and artichoke-crab cakes also will be available.

It's all accompanied by Bavarian polka music and, on the patio, festive decorations.

For reservations, call 876-1983.

<b>Another Reason to Visit Valley Ford:</b>There's a new kid on the chocolate block, so to speak.

HydroSouls, the sweet little company based in Bodega Bay that makes aromatherapy products for humans and animals, has just released a line of handmade chocolates.

Offered as chocolate bars and chocolate-covered toffee, these confections are made with organic fair-trade chocolate.

Currently, they are available at HydroSouls' little shop at 14390 Highway 1 in Valley Ford and, on Sundays, at the Bodega Bay Farmers Market. The shop is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Monday.

<b>Los Muertos at the Market:</b> From 2 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, the Petaluma Farmers Market will help you get ready for D? de los Muertos by offering an opportunity to make paper flowers and decorate sugar skulls.

Grupo Invasion will play Latin music throughout the day, joined by an abundance of local, seasonal and primarily organic produce, poultry, meat and seafood.

If you think you'll linger, you might want to bring a cooler and a bucket of water for flowers, as this market always has gorgeous bouquets.

The market is located in Walnut Park, at the corner of Petaluma Boulevard South and D Street.

All you need to do is show up, but be warned: This market is very well attended. For easy parking and the best shopping opportunities, arrive early.

<b>White Rats, Brown Bones:</b> Earlier this week we stopped by Recheche du Plaisir and were delightfully creeped out by a life-sized rat made of solid white chocolate. If you're looking for an unusual treat for Halloween, this could be it.

The retail store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but orders can be placed throughout the week at 827-7998. Patisserie Angelica will be open all day on Halloween.

Stay tuned for details about the bakery's annual open house, when you can sample all their seasonal specialties.

<b>Wine, Whim & Song at Coppola Winery:</b> A new tasting experience is being offered at Francis Ford Coppola Winery (300 Archimedes, Geyserville), something that is a natural progression from its popular "Tasting in the Dark" program, when guests are blindfolded throughout a guided tasting.

The new 90-minute tasting elevates the sense of hearing, not typically associated with the pleasures of wine, to equal or nearly equal importance with taste.

Skeptical? We were, too, but recently enjoyed a demonstration by Clark Smith, author of "Postmodern Winemaking" (University of California Press, 2013, $34.95), during which Smith actually altered the taste of a wine on the palate by the music he played while we were tasting. It was eerie and unmistakable.

If this sounds like something you'd like to explore, check out postmodernwinemaking.com and then sign up for the tasting at Coppola.

Smith is not involved in the tasting — a company called Sonomadic is the wine and music curator involved — but there is an overlap of philosophy.

<b>Hopland Passport Weekend:</b> How about a little road trip to take advantage of this fine October weather? It's Passport Weekend in Hopland, where 15 wineries will be offering special food pairings and hosting live entertainment from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets are $45 in advance, $55 the day of the event. Designated drivers are admitted free.

Terra Savia, which produces some of our favorite olive oils, will celebrate New Orleans style, with jambalaya, red beans and rice, fish stew, fried green tomatoes and bread pudding paired with its white, red and sparkling wines, with music by the Coffee Zombie Collective.

Saracina Vineyards will have squash tacos, pulled pork tacos, live music and cave tours.

Rivino Winery is putting a Canadian twist on things — poutine, anyone?

<b>Heads Up, Pinot Lovers:</b> If your idea of a good time is tasting a lot of wines in one place during a fairly short period of time, you may already have the 10th annual Russian River Valley Pinot on the River on your calendar. If not, you may want to consider it.

The event takes place on the Healdsburg Plaza from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 27 and features about a hundred producers of the world's most alluring grape, pinot noir.

Cost is $75 in advance and $100 at the event itself. Proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Sonoma County. If you'd like early entry at 11 a.m., cost is $85 in advance.

<b>Oktoberfest Continues in Valley Ford:</b> The response to last weekend's "Rocktoberfest" at Rocker Oysterfeller's Kitchen and Saloon (14415 Highway 1, Valley Ford) was such a great success that the celebration will continue through Oct. 27.

Here's the deal. During the restaurant's regular hours — Thursday and Friday, 5-8:30 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 8:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. — a special menu of classic German fare and drink will be available.

Buttermilk fried chicken, Rocker burgers, oysters and artichoke-crab cakes also will be available.

It's all accompanied by Bavarian polka music and, on the patio, festive decorations.

For reservations, call 876-1983.

<b>Another Reason to Visit Valley Ford:</b>There's a new kid on the chocolate block, so to speak.

HydroSouls, the sweet little company based in Bodega Bay that makes aromatherapy products for humans and animals, has just released a line of handmade chocolates.

Offered as chocolate bars and chocolate-covered toffee, these confections are made with organic fair-trade chocolate.

Currently, they are available at HydroSouls' little shop at 14390 Highway 1 in Valley Ford and, on Sundays, at the Bodega Bay Farmers Market. The shop is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Monday.

A portion of the profits from their sale will benefit Cradle of the Moon, Inc., a nonprofit organization that supports a small herd of horses rescued from unhappy situations.

<b>Los Muertos at the Market:</b> From 2 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, the Petaluma Farmers Market will help you get ready for D? de los Muertos by offering an opportunity to make paper flowers and decorate sugar skulls.

Grupo Invasion will play Latin music throughout the day, joined by an abundance of local, seasonal and primarily organic produce, poultry, meat and seafood.

If you think you'll linger, you might want to bring a cooler and a bucket of water for flowers, as this market always has gorgeous bouquets.

The market is located in Walnut Park, at the corner of Petaluma Boulevard South and D Street.

All you need to do is show up, but be warned: This market is very well attended. For easy parking and the best shopping opportunities, arrive early.

<b>White Rats, Brown Bones:</b> Earlier this week we stopped by Recheche du Plaisir and were delightfully creeped out by a life-sized rat made of solid white chocolate. If you're looking for an unusual treat for Halloween, this could be it.

The retail store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but orders can be placed throughout the week at 827-7998. Patisserie Angelica will be open all day on Halloween.

Stay tuned for details about the bakery's annual open house, when you can sample all their seasonal specialties.

<b>Wine, Whim & Song at Coppola Winery:</b> A new tasting experience is being offered at Francis Ford Coppola Winery (300 Archimedes, Geyserville), something that is a natural progression from its popular "Tasting in the Dark" program, when guests are blindfolded throughout a guided tasting.

The new 90-minute tasting elevates the sense of hearing, not typically associated with the pleasures of wine, to equal or nearly equal importance with taste.

Skeptical? We were, too, but recently enjoyed a demonstration by Clark Smith, author of "Postmodern Winemaking" (University of California Press, 2013, $34.95), during which Smith actually altered the taste of a wine on the palate by the music he played while we were tasting. It was eerie and unmistakable.

If this sounds like something you'd like to explore, check out postmodernwinemaking.com and then sign up for the tasting at Coppola.

Smith is not involved in the tasting — a company called Sonomadic is the wine and music curator involved — but there is an overlap of philosophy.

Three sessions are scheduled this fall. The first is at 3 p.m. Saturday. Another is scheduled for 3 p.m. Nov. 9, and the final one of the year takes place at 3 p.m. Dec. 14. Cost is $45.

If you're interested but can't attend, the winery is selling a special package that includes three wines and a CD, "Wine, Whim & Song Volume 1," so you can explore this idea at home.

<b>Hopland Passport Weekend:</b> How about a little road trip to take advantage of this fine October weather? It's Passport Weekend in Hopland, where 15 wineries will be offering special food pairings and hosting live entertainment from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets are $45 in advance, $55 the day of the event. Designated drivers are admitted free.

Terra Savia, which produces some of our favorite olive oils, will celebrate New Orleans style, with jambalaya, red beans and rice, fish stew, fried green tomatoes and bread pudding paired with its white, red and sparkling wines, with music by the Coffee Zombie Collective.

Saracina Vineyards will have squash tacos, pulled pork tacos, live music and cave tours.

Rivino Winery is putting a Canadian twist on things — poutine, anyone?

<b>Heads Up, Pinot Lovers:</b> If your idea of a good time is tasting a lot of wines in one place during a fairly short period of time, you may already have the 10th annual Russian River Valley Pinot on the River on your calendar. If not, you may want to consider it.

The event takes place on the Healdsburg Plaza from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 27 and features about a hundred producers of the world's most alluring grape, pinot noir.

Cost is $75 in advance and $100 at the event itself. Proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Sonoma County. If you'd like early entry at 11 a.m., cost is $85 in advance.